A quick guide to the must-see attractions in Ili! Read this and you'll get it all

Summer in Ili, Xinjiang: lakes are blue, grasslands are green
Sunlight falls on distant mountains and meadows, leaving vastness and perfect tranquility
I raised my camera and captured summer's gentlest moments
This summer, I highly recommend visiting Ili at least once!
.
📸 Attraction guide:
1️⃣ Sayram Lake: Loop counterclockwise, enter at East Gate, exit at South Gate. Best views between the lighthouse, S-curve, and Songshutou
2️⃣ Guozigou Bridge: Perfect viewing spot right after exiting Sayram Lake's South Gate
3️⃣ Xiate: No need to ride horses, but definitely hike the small loop from General Bridge to Transfer Bridge - fewer crowds, stunning views
4️⃣ Kalajun: Visit the eastern grassland area in summer. Flower Terrace area is most beautiful, and you can hold lambs here too
5️⃣ Qiaxi: The Qiaxi Scroll viewing platform offers breathtaking scenery. Riverside camping at the mountain base is excellent
6️⃣ Ku'erdening: Head straight to Qimengde viewing platform. Many charming wooden cabins along the way, like Heidi's grandfather's house
7️⃣ Nalati: Visit the Sky Grassland in summer. Go directly to the viral bridge area, then follow the river upstream - fewer people and better views the further you go, with another beautiful wooden bridge ahead
8️⃣ Duku Highway: Has winding mountain roads but good conditions. Not as difficult to drive or as congested as imagined
9️⃣ Tangbula Fairy Lake: Absolutely gorgeous! Take a round-trip horseback ride. One hour by the lake is enough for photos
.
🚗 My itinerary:
❶ Ürümqi ➠ Bole City (overnight in Bole)
❷ Bole ➠ Sayram Lake ➠ Guozigou Bridge ➠ Yining City (overnight in Yining)
❸ Yining ➠ Xiate ➠ Zhaosu County (overnight in Zhaosu)
❹ Zhaosu ➠ Kalajun ➠ Tekes County (overnight in Tekes)
❺ Tekes ➠ Qiaxi ➠ Ku'erdening ➠ Xinyuan County (overnight in Nalati Town)
❻ Nalati day trip (overnight in Nalati Town)
❼ Duku Highway North Section ➠ Hundred Miles Gallery ➠ Fairy Lake ➠ Dushanzi District (overnight in Dushanzi)
❽ Dushanzi ➠ Ürümqi ➠ Departure